I always had to prove myself through my actions. Be a cheerleader. Be class president. Be the editor of the newspaper.

I am so ready to be a mommy. I can't wait. I notice every little baby dress, every little baby toy, every little baby thing.

Career is important, but nothing really supersedes my roles as a mother.

After my divorce, I was struggling to find my own voice. Through reading, I gained my power back.

I also have been called that terrible "N" word straight to my face and not known what to do about it because it was just in like 1993 that someone called me that.

I think I've evolved into someone pretty confident - in myself and in my skin.

Let me tell you something - being thought of as a beautiful woman has spared me nothing in life. No heartache, no trouble. Love has been difficult. Beauty is essentially meaningless and it is always transitory.